The federal government is setting up a Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission as part of its next national plan to end violence against women and children.

Funded by $22.4 million over five years, the commission will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives to prevent violence, intervene early and better support victim-survivors.

Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the new commission would operate as a government agency led by a chief executive, or commissioner, and have research and secretariat staff.

The announcement comes as Labor promised to set up a national commissioner to co-ordinate domestic and sexual violence prevention if it wins government at the next federal election.

The opposition has also pledged to spend $153.4 million over four years on 500 additional workers to support women in crisis.

Half of those community sector workers would be based in rural and regional Australia.

“Right now, women fleeing violence are being turned away from accommodation and services because of insufficient funding towards sector workers, and the failure to recognise this tragedy as a national priority,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese said.  

A family, domestic and sexual violence commissioner would be appointed to report yearly on progress at stopping violence against women and children under successive national plans.

They would also help coordinate consistent access to support services across the country, and work with states, territories and Commonwealth agencies to ensure there was the necessary data to inform effective investment. 

Mr Albanese accused the Morrison government of failing to fund adequately support services and accommodation. 

He said women’s refuges turn away up to half the women who sought help, while only one in 10 women who wanted to remain in their homes safely had the necessary support to do so.

The extra funding would be used to provide shelters with an extra case manager and community organisations with a financial counsellor. 

Specialist women’s services would also be able to hire a support worker to help children work through trauma. 

Labor previously pledged to spend $100 million on crisis accommodation, and fund 4000 homes for women fleeing violence and those at risk of homelessness.

AAP

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